Skip to main content

Head-to-head comparison

Recraft V4.1 Utility vs. FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

1

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-15

latest arena retrieval

Change image model selection

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for Recraft V4.1 Utility and FLUX.2 Klein 9B
AttributeRecraft V4.1 UtilityFLUX.2 Klein 9B
ProviderRecraftBlack Forest Labs
ReleasedMay 2026January 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, local
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryOpen weights
ParametersNot published9 billion
Maximum output1 Megapixel4 Megapixel
Arena configurationUtility9B
Text-to-image price$35 per 1,000 images$15 per 1,000 images
Editing priceNo arena entry$17 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Recraft V4.1 UtilityFLUX.2 Klein 9B
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Recraft V4.1 Utility$35
FLUX.2 Klein 9B$15Lower price

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

1 shared result series
Recraft V4.1 UtilityFLUX.2 Klein 9B
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Recraft V4.1 Utility1,217 EloHigher arena score
FLUX.2 Klein 9B1,149 Elo
Arena benchmark scores for Recraft V4.1 Utility and FLUX.2 Klein 9B
BenchmarkRecraft V4.1 UtilityFLUX.2 Klein 9BSource
Text to Image Arena
1,217 EloHigher arena score
Rank 21, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 6,287 ratings
1,149 Elo
Rank 60, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 7,939 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, exactly one request, and the first result counts. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier, and prompt processing can still differ. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Character and detail
Recraft V4.1 Utility
FLUX.2 Klein 9B, Character and detail
FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Prompt and settings

Create a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM. Source
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1587849924, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: d2ba0b86ed4214659720cdcf68ff09ca748700a32afc3d25808b6a3af74223f2

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: bae572a10f1f654bcd2dbbb504314a72a8ab4c41dc40a023ffd8865725714ed1

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: 84eceab680e59de6b9d4e68b3c21f6515ce093ff7d110992049e847570dd565f

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, request SHA 256: 5d005ee24926d68b7d2299b8ecbe4e14919f652761f6de2568a043f2a6258da0

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Infographic
Recraft V4.1 Utility
FLUX.2 Klein 9B, Infographic
FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Prompt and settings

Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly four numbered steps in this order: 1 LICHT, 2 WASSER, 3 CO₂, 4 ZUCKER + SAUERSTOFF. Use a clean editorial science style with one plant cross-section, simple arrows, high contrast, legible labels, and no other text.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:38 PM. Source
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1082231541, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: 7d383a257e5152b2781a6e5a78edd54fe55900dfb2580f85078f8142b63194c5

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: 452c38a089d6c3c186c3b692d8a5d5f644013f7f82fbb05f3e2bb59ae3273698

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: 1d2eb263ca5a25794a88df7bb04f5c13e10ed9a289371d1dcc7ed6d6e0a297e2

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, request SHA 256: 8b8014fc63f520d73ff57d3d8df5eae880097383167d44918b963f2830d09940

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Product photography
Recraft V4.1 Utility
FLUX.2 Klein 9B, Product photography
FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Prompt and settings

Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:37 PM. Source
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1388538280, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:39 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: 7fd9cfe67371d0fecc6d605105ca777bec170d4d4e8dcad5b4f15f813e21c1ab

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: c2f48729405997c5ad5edeaa0053af2850f1f694824c5038a4ddafc50c8cfa91

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: e7208f19ccfb9b810b9648cb1861797b7155ad91933d1660059236cef413ebe0

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, request SHA 256: 21e2c14d1b6315c30134e1390f531349608855d4ef1a87527e6d0ba57b2974ca

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Recraft V4.1 Utility, Typography and layout
Recraft V4.1 Utility
FLUX.2 Klein 9B, Typography and layout
FLUX.2 Klein 9B
Prompt and settings

Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

Recraft V4.1 Utility. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.035000, model ID recraft/recraft-v4.1-utility, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source
FLUX.2 Klein 9B. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1340991019, estimated cost $0.006291, model ID fal-ai/flux-2/klein/9b, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Recraft V4.1 Utility, image SHA 256: 3aa0bc86cccfd2140ba4f5606f1f814a5a6ded23cb06b7aebe26f8dcf946a752

Recraft V4.1 Utility, request SHA 256: d8cd315a438713ccae185fca6c8a3fb4430eadff9b0601abaf6cb2c27b0d7918

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, image SHA 256: c5f23870e70f2245d24a3689f2579ceb770e5edf8c3c89b7d6ed7ae138f262f6

FLUX.2 Klein 9B, request SHA 256: 530872e813e988ba95025956a3743c6111120af963d90b8970a8bf3eced5547b

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.

More matchups

Related image model comparisons

Compare Recraft V4.1 Utility and FLUX.2 Klein 9B with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison